A place for St. Vladimir's parishioners to ask questions and get answers. A place for spiritual discussion sometimes prompted by and always moderated by Fr. Gregory. Read. Think. Pray. Question. Repeat. Ask a question by emailing ogrisha@stvladimiraami.org or in the comment area.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Politics at St. Vladimir’s – our Party is Christ

People will know you
are My disciples if you have love one for another. (John 13:35)

Yesterday Donald Trump won the
presidency of the United States. Probably just about everyone is a
little surprised about that. Be that as it may, if you are a Trump
supporter you are happy today. If you are Clinton supporter (or a
Trump opponent – these two stances are not necessarily equivalent),
or a supporter of another candidate you are not happy today. This is
how our system works: one person wins, everyone else loses.

In other words, follow the golden rule. As always...

Donald Trump gave a very magnanimous
victory speech early this morning. He said many good words. Hilary
Clinton gave a very magnanimous concession speech a bit later this
morning. She said many good words. President Obama gave a very
magnanimous transition speech this afternoon. He said many good
words. Of course those who have lost are hurting. Of course those who
won are rejoicing. But our leaders modeled for us the way our system
works. Yes, the old adage may be true that you can tell if a
politician is lying by whether or not his or her lips are moving.
Still, perhaps even despite our basest instincts, we fight to the
end, then we extend a hand of friendship and support to our
opponents, and we stop the fight. The election is over. We support
the winner and facilitate a smooth and peaceful transition of power.

The leaders are done fighting. We need
to emulate them. The election is over. We need to stop. We decided at
St. Vladimir’s some years ago not to do politics. This was in
relation to the Ukrainian crisis. But I don’t remember ever
rescinding that call to not do politics in our parish. We have Trump
supporters, Clinton supporters, and supporters of other candidates in
our parish. But our party is Christ. Elections have repercussions.
This will be the case with this election, just as it was with every
presidential election that has ever taken place. The President has
great power. That is the system we have. But our party is Christ. We
have a tradition in America of a vigorous democracy and a zealous
press. And this is good. But our party is Christ. This post would
have been exactly the same if Clinton would have won rather than
Trump. Our party is Christ.

Our parish family is very diverse
politically, ethnically, linguistically, and in just about every
other way. Posting more about the evils of Trump or the evils of
Clinton does nothing now except promote factions within our parish
family. This does not advance the party of Christ. The election is
over. The leaders are done fighting. We need to emulate them. Now our
job is to pray. Just as it would have been if Hilary Clinton would
have won, or any of the other candidates. Yes – today we are happy
or sad, depending on our politics. But our party is Christ. We must
be above the petty politics of the street and react in a Christian
way – through prayer. Posting more now, writing more now, arguing
more now – this provides heat to arguments, but does it shed light
on anything?

This is not to say that we should not
hold political feet to the fire. Our country’s ongoing political
discourse is important for our republic to function. But if we will
participate in this as we go forward: please consider your words in
light of your parish family. Will you add heat, or will you shed
light? And will you advance the party of Christ, or will you sully
His name? The political discourse is not in and of itself sinful,
but HOW we participate in it very well might be, if we hurt those we
love most – at least those who we SHOULD love most – our parish
family with whom we struggle together for our mutual salvation.
Remember: we perish alone, we are saved together. If we isolate
members of our parish family we make them “alone”, and we will
have to answer for our unchristian acts.

To say we don’t do politics in our
parish may not really be accurate, because of course most everyone
has their political view. Better put, I think we can say: we don’t
do politics that hurts our parish family. This is what it means when
we say our party is Christ. If we want to say “we don’t do
politics” as shorthand for that I think that is just fine. I am not
asking you not to have an opinion. I am asking you not to use your
opinion to hurt others. To think of others and the bonds within our
parish family before you exercise political speech, if you decide to
do so. I think that is the Christian way. I hope you will agree with
me and act accordingly.